After the debacle against Bradford City it was to hoped that the Imps had learnt enough to put in a better performance against Northampton Town on Monday afternoon. With the nation enjoying an extended New Year and football once again on the calendar it was a clash which could indicate where the Imps are heading this season.
With Northampton not exactly firing on all cylinders so far and their main threat out injured it was to be hoped that something could be got from the game. Tilson meanwhile made a number of changes to his team which have since become the target of much speculation on message boards. Both wingers Mustapha Carayol and Albert Jarrett were dropped to the bench whilst Moses Swaibu travelled but didn’t appear in the match squad.
The return of Danny Hone from his loan spell at Darlington gave Tilly a different option in central defence. It was a good start for the Imps with most of the play in the first 20 minutes heading towards the Cobblers goal. Hutchinson should have opened the scoring after only 2 minutes but squandered the chance and one wonders what that would have done for confidence in the youngster himself and the team.
It was becoming clearer and clearer as the first half approached that a set piece would probably be City’s undoing. As so it came to pass soon after the restart when yet another long throw into the box was flicked on for Nilly Mckay to slot in the first goal for Northampton.
More City pressure then came and a fightback was on the cards. This was certainly a more committed display than the Saturday surrender to Bradford and the Imps added to the pressure on the Cobblers by unleashing the flying wingers Carayol and Jarrett. They immediately made an impression with Carayol playing a part in the equaliser but all credit must go to Josh O’Keefe for hitting his 25-yard strike with aplomb. He won’t score many like that in his career!
Unfortunately when you are down at the bottom scrapping for points things don’t always go your way and a cruel end to the game in the 88th minute when another wonder strike, this time from Northampton’s John Johnson, sealed the points for the Cobblers.
Steve Tilson has plenty to ponder and think about before the next League clash and surely bringing in some fresh faces has to be a priority especially after central defender Adam Watts left the pitch nursing what could be a serious injury.
